4-Vinylpyridine-Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Copolymers. Formation of Porous Structure by Using Cyclohexanone and Toluene as Diluents in Suspension Polymerization

Abstract

A series of porous copolymer beads were synthesized by suspension copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) in the presence of diluents, cyclohexanone (CHN), and toluene (TOL). The resulting copolymer beads were characterized for their density, porosity, surface area, mechanical strength, and Cl− ion capacity. It was observed that the apparent density of the copolymer beads decreases with the decrease in CHN of a given mixture of diluents, % cross-linking agent (EGDM) and with the increase in solvent fraction (Fs). It was also observed that the porosity and surface area of the copolymer beads increase with the decrease in CHN of a given mixture of diluents, % cross-linking agent and with the increase in solvent fraction. The mechanical strength of the copolymer beads decreases with the increase in solvent fraction. The Cl− ions capacity of the copolymer beads decreases with the increase in % cross-linking agent whereas it is almost independent of the change of one component of a given mixture of diluents and solvent fraction.